Advancing Mental Health Care for People With CF 

Dr. Kristi Wright is a Registered Doctoral Psychologist whose work spans the full CF lifespan, from children to adults. After years of studying anxiety in young people with health conditions, she has focused her recent research on the mental health needs of people living with cystic fibrosis. 

With support from Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s 2023 Seed Grant, Dr. Wright and collaborators at CF Care BC identified a clear gap: many people with CF are not receiving the mental health support they need. Using a stepped‑care approach, offering accessible, lower‑intensity supports first, with more specialized care available as needed — the team explored virtual, group‑based solutions to increase access. 

Dr. Wright and team adapted an existing CF‑specific cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) program, originally developed by Dr. Deborah Friedman and Dr. Anna Georgiopoulos (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA) to be delivered one‑to‑one and in person, into a virtual group format suited to the Canadian healthcare system. This model reduces barriers to care and allows people with CF to connect safely with peers, something not possible in person due to infection‑control guidelines. 

The pilot study showed that the virtual group program could be delivered effectively and reduced anxiety and depression at levels similar to the original individually-delivered model. Participants also shared strong positive feedback, describing the program as supportive, helpful, and accessible. 

Seed Grant funding made this work possible by supporting clinician training, program delivery, and data collection — essential foundations for larger‑scale research. The next phase will refine the program and seek funding for a randomized controlled trial. Ultimately, Dr. Wright and team aim to support the training of clinicians across Canada to deliver this CF‑specific CBT in their own provinces. 

Dr. Wright notes that people with CF face higher risks of mental health challenges, often worsened by the need to avoid in‑person contact with others who have the disease. As individuals with CF live longer, new psychological needs continue to emerge — making accessible, dedicated mental health supports more important than ever.